Control valves



Nov. 21, 1967 R. F. HODGSON CONTROL VALVES Filed April 26, 1965 INVENTORlg Robert E Hodgson QA W & W

United States Patent ()hio Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,958 Claims.(Cl. 137-59612) This invention relates to control valves andparticularly to loader control valves embodying a combination ofpriority and parallelcircuit controls.

Loaders and like implements having a boom and a bucket operated byhydraulic cylinders require that in a lifting cycle the boom be litfedwhile the bucket is simultaneously rolled back.

This operation requires fluid flow to the corresponding controlcylinders in parallel. In the lower or power down positions, on theother hand, it is desirable that the bucket roll back have priority overthe boom cylinder because the suction of the hydraulic cylinder on thelowering boom will starve the roll back cylinder. In such structures itis also desirable that there be a' float position on the control for theboom in which fluid from one side of the the cylinder goes directly tothe other side of the same cylinder with again the roll back havingpriority over the boom.

Many attempts have been made to provide a valve structure capable ofperforming the foregoing functions without complete success. In priorart structures no float position could be provided to satisfactorilytransfer the fluid from one side of a boom cylinder to the other withoutloss of any significant time. v

In the present invention I provide in a control valve, a valve bodyhaving a pair of spaced parallel bores, a pair of side-by-side highpressure outlet or work passages connecting with each bore and eachleading to a motor port at the exterior of the body, exhaust passagemeans communicable through each of said bores with said high pressureoutlet passages, a valve element in each of said bores, movable axiallytherein from a neutral position to either of at least two operating orwork positions to selectively govern communication between said outletpassages and said exhaust passage means, said body having an inlet andan outlet connected by a through passage which transversely intersectssaid bores and through which pressure fluid supplied to the body inletflows directly to the body outlet when said valve elements are all intheir neutral position, but which through passage is blocked by any ofsaid valve elements when said element is in either of its operatingpositions, said body having a parallel passage means extendingtransversely of and communicating with bores and terminating in saidbody to form a passage closed at one end and communicating with the bodyinlet at the opposite end, said parallel passage selectivelycommunicating through the hollow valve element of the bore nearest thebody inlet with one of each of the high pressure outlet passages in thetwo operating positions and communicating through the hollow valveelement of the next succeeding bore with one of the high pressure outletpassages connecting with said bore in one work position and blocked fromcommunication through said bore in the other work position, said otherwork position connecting said other high pressure outlet passage throughsaid hollow valve element with the through passage at the bore.Preferably said valve element in said next succeeding bore is providedwith an elongated groove adapted in a float position to directly connectthe work passages through said bore.

In the foregoing general description I have set out certain objects,purposes and advantages of my invention. Other objects, purposes andadvantages will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal section through a valve assembly according tomy invention;

1 FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of FIGURE and FIGURE 3 is asection on the line IIIIII of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated a valve body 10 havingspaced parallel bores 11 and 12. A pair of side-by-side high pressureoutlet passages 13 and 14 connect with bore 11 and a like pair of outletpassages 15 and 16 communicate with bore 12. Exhaust passages 17, and 18intersect the bores 11 and 12 adjacent and on opposite sides of outletpassages 13, 14 and 15, 16. A valve element 19 is axially movable inbore 11 and a valve element 20 is axially movable in bore 12. An inlet21 connects a through passage formed of a bifurcated passage 22intersecting bore 11 on opposite sides of a single passage 23 whichbecomes bifurcated to intersect bore 12 on opposite sides of passage 24.The through passage connects at the inlet 21 with a source of highpressure fluid. In the neutral position shown in FIGURE 1 fluid flowsfrom inlet 21 through the bifurcated passage 22, bore 11 to passage 23,thence through the bifurcated end of passage 23, bore 12 into passage 24and then to tank. When the valve element 19 is moved to the left viewingFIGURE 1 fluid in passage 22 enters openings 25 in valve element 11thence through the hollow interior of element 19 to openings 26 throughcheck valve 27 into high pressure passage 13 and then to one side of afluid motor. At the same time fluid from the opposite side of the fluidmotor returns through passage 14, groove 28 in element 19, bore 11 toexhaust passage 18. When the element 19 is moved in the oppositedirection to the other work position fluid follows the same route frompassage 2210 openings 26 and thence into passage 14. Return fluidentering passage 13 passes through groove 29, bore 11 and into exhaustpassage 17.

A parallel passage 30 extends from one arm of the bifurcated passage 22,parallel to passage 23 to intersect bore 12 adjacent one arm ofbifurcated passage 23. Fluid from passage 22 passes through check valve31 in passage 30 to maintain the passage under pressure. .When the valveelement 20 is moved to the left, viewing FIGURE 1, fluid flow throughbore 12 from passage 23 to passage 24 is interrupted and high pressurefluid enters openings 32 in valve element 29 thence through the hollowinterior 33 of the valve element 20 and out openings 35 in the wall ofthe valve element into work passage 15 and from thence to the operatedfluid motor not shown. Fluid from the opposite side of the fluid motoris returned through work passage 16, through bore 12 around groove 36 invalve element 29 to exhaust passage 18. When the valve element 26) is inthis position, the valve element 19 operates as a priority valve,because its operation to either work position prevents flow to passage23, thereby preventing flow of fluid to valve element 20. In the secondoperating or Work position of valve element 20, the openings 32 connectpassage 30 through the hollow bore 33 of valve element 20 and throughopenings 35 with work passage 16. Fluid flowing through this path actsin parallel with the fluid in valve element 19 in all its workpositions. Return fluid enters work passage 15 and is carried throughbore 12 around groove 37 to exhaust passage 17. When it is desired toplace the valve element 20 in the float position in which fluid from oneside of the work motor is delivered directly to the other, the element20 is moved to its extreme left position viewing FIGURE 1. In thisposition the groove 36 connects passages 15 and 16 through bore 12' witha minimum of fluid flow loss and makes possible for the first time tovirtually eliminate loss of lowering speed in the valve element, whichin the past has been the problem area.

While I have illustrated and described a presently preferred embodimentof my invention it will be understood that this invention may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a control valve, a valve body having a pair of spaced parallelbores, a pair of side by side high pressure outlet passages connectingwith each bore and each leading to a motor port at the exterior of thebody, exhaust passage means communicable through each of said bores withsaid high pressure outlet passages, a hollow valve element in each ofsaid bores movable axially therein from a neutral position to either ofat least two operating positions to selectively govern communicationbetween said outlet passages and said exhaust passage means, said bodyhaving an inlet and an outlet connected by a through passage whichtransversely intersects said bores and through which pressure fluidsupplied to the body inlet flows directly to the body outlet when saidvalve elements are all in their neutral position, but which throughpassage is closed by either of said valve elements when either of saidelements is in either of its operating positions, said body having aparallel passage means extending transversely of and communciating withboth bores and terminating in said body to form a passage closed at oneend and communicating with the body inlet at the opposite end, saidparallel passage selectivelyicommunieating through the hollow valveelement of the bore nearest the body inlet with one of each of the highpressure outlet passages in the two operating positions andcommunicating through the hollow valve element of the next succeedingbore with one of the high pressure outlet passages connecting with saidbore in one work position and blocked from communication through saidbore in the other work position, said other work position connectingsaid other high pressure outlet passage through said hollow valveelement with the through passage at the bore.

2. In a control valve, a valve body having an elongated bore, a pair ofside by side high pressure outlet passages connecting with said bore andeach leading to a motor port at the exterior of the body, exhaustpassage means communicablethrough said bore .with said high pressureoutlet passage means, a hollow valve element in said bore movableaxially therein from a neutral position to either of at least twooperating positions to selectively govern communication between saidoutlet passages and said exhaust passage means, said body having aninlet and an outlet connected by a through passage which transverselyintersects said bore and through which pressure fluid supplied to thebody inlet flows directly to the body outlet when said valve element isin its neutral position, but which through passage is closed by saidvalve element when said element is in either of its operating positions,said body having a parallel passage means extending transversely of andcommunicating with said bore and terminating in said body to form apassage closed at one end and communicating with the body inlet at theopposite end, said parallel passage selectively communicating throughthe hollow valve element with one of the high pressure outlet passagesconnecting with said bore in one work position and blocked fromcornmunication through said bore in the other work position, said otherwork position connecting said other high pressure outlet passage throughsaid hollow valve element with the through passage at the bore.

3. In a control valve, a valve body having a pair of spaced parallelelongated bores, a pair of side by side high pressure outlet passagesconnecting with each said bore and each leading to a motor port at theexterior of the body, exhaust passage means communicable through saidbores with said high pressure outlet passage means,

a hollow valve element in each of said bores movable axially thereinfrom a neutral position to either of at least two operating positions toselectively govern communication between said outlet passages and saidexhaust passage means, said body having an inlet and an outlet connectedby a through passage which transversely intersects both said bores andthrough which pressure fluid supplied to the body inlet flows directlyto the body outlet when said valve elements are in their neutralposition, but which through passage is closed by either of said valveelements when said element is in either of its operating positions, saidbody having a parallel passage means extending transversely of andcommunicating with one of said bores and said through passage, saidparallel passage selectively communicating through the hollow valveelement of the said one bore with one of each of the high pressureoutlet passages in the two operating positions and check valve means insaid parallel passage.

4. In a control valve, a valve body having a pair of spaced parallelbores, a pair of side by side high pressure outlet passages connectingwith each bore and each leading to a motor port at the exterior of thebody, exhaust passage means communicable through each of said bores withsaid high pressure outlet passages, a hollow valve element in each ofsaid bores movable axially therein from a neutral position to either ofat least two operating positions to selectively govern communicationbetween said outlet passages and said exhaust passage means, said bodyhaving an inlet and an outlet connected by a through passage whichtransversely intersects said bores and through which pressure fluidsupplied to the body inlet flows directly to the body outlet when saidvalve elements are all in their neutral position, but which throughpassage by either of said valve elements when either of said elements isin either of its operating positions, said body having a parallelpassage means extending transversely of and communicating with bothbores and terminating in said body to form a passage closed at one endand communicating with the body inlet at the opposite end, said parallelpassage selectively communicating through the hollow valve element ofthe bore nearest the body inlet with one of each of the high pressureoutlet passages in the two operating positions and communicating throughthe hollow valve element of the next succeeding bore with one of thehigh pressure outlet passages connecting with said bore in one workposition and blocked from communication through said bore in the otherwork position, said other work position connecting said other highpressure outlet passage through said hollow valve element with thethrough passage through said hollow valve element with the throughpassage at the bore, said hollow valve element of the said nextsucceeding bore having an external groove connecting said side-by-sideoutlet passages together in a float position adjacent one of the twooperating positions.

5. In a control valve, a valve body having an elongated bore, a pair ofside by side high pressure outlet passages connecting with said bore andeach leading to a motor port at the exterior of the body, exhaustpassage means communicable through said bore with said high pressureoutlet passage means, a hollow valve element in said bore movableaxially therein from a neutral position to either of at least twooperating positions to selectively govern communication between saidoutlet passages and said exhaust passage means, said body having aninlet and an outlet connected by a through passage which transverselyintersects said bore and through which pressure fluid supplied to thebody inlet flows directly to the body outlet when said valve element isin its neutral position, but which through passage is closed by saidvalve element when said element is in either of its operating positions,said body having a parallel passage means extending transversely of andcommunicating with said bore and terminating in said body to form apassage closed at one end and communicating with the body inlet at theopposite end, said parallel passage selectively communicating throughthe hollow valve element with one of the high pressure outlet passagesconnecting with said bore in one Work position and blocked fromcommunication through said bore in the other work position, said otherwork position connecting said other high pressure outlet passage throughSaid hollow valve element with the through passage at the bore, saidhollow valve element having an external groove connecting said side byside outlet passages together in a float position adjacent one of thetwo operating positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hodgson et al. 137-596.12 VanderKaay 137596.12 XR Martin 137-59613 XR Williams 137596.12 Stacey137-596.2

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. R. J. MILLER, Assistant Examiner.

3. IN A CONTROL VALVE, A VALVE BODY HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLELELONGATED BORES, A PAIR OF SIDE BY SIDE HIGH PRESSURE OUTLET PASSAGESCONNECTING WITH EACH SAID BORE AND EACH LEADING TO A MOTOR PORT AT THEEXTERIOR OF THE BODY, EXHAUST PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICABLE THROUGH SAIDBORES WITH SAID HIGH PRESSURE OUTLET PASSAGE MEANS, A HOLLOW VALVEELEMENT IN EACH OF SAID BORES MOVABLE AXIALLY THEREIN FROM A NEUTRALPOSITION TO EITHER OF AT LEAST TWO OPERATING POSITIONS TO SELECTIVELYGOVERN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID OUTLET PASSAGES AND SAID EXHAUSTPASSAGE MEANS, SAID BODY HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET CONNECTED BY ATHROUGH PASSAGE WHICH TRANSVERSELY INTERSECTS BOTH SAID BORES ANDTHROUGH WHICH PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLIED TO THE BODY INLET FLOWS DIRECTELYTO THE BODY OUTLET WHEN SAID VALVE ELEMENTS ARE IN THEIR NEUTRALPOSITION, BUT WHICH THROUGH PASSAGE IS CLOSED BY EITHER OF SAID VALVEELEMENTS WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN EITHER OF ITS OPERATING POSITIONS, SAIDBODY HAVING A PARALLEL PASSAGE MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF ANDCOMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAID BORES AND SAID THROUGH PASSAGE, SAIDPARALLEL PASSAGE SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING THROUGH THE HOLLOW VALVEELEMENT OF THE SAID ONE BORE WITH ONE OF EACH OF THE HIGH PRESSUREOUTLET PASSAGES IN THE TWO OPERATING POSITIONS AND CHECK VALVE MEANS INSAID PARALLEL PASSAGE.